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VCRD In the News

Courtney Commentary: Put it in ReverseBy Elizabeth Courtney as seen in the Rutland Herald: http://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/put-it-in-reverse/
I recently heard Paul Hawken — the ecology of commerce and drawdown guru — speak about “reversing” climate change. Hawken spoke at the... more

Conquering Climate Change One Business at a TimeBy Terri Hallenbeck, as seen in Seven Days: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/conquering-climate-change-one-busine...
When Paul Costello and his team of organizers started putting together a conference on climate change a few months ago, they... more

'Now or never': Family to open general store in VernonBy Chris Mays, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: http://www.reformer.com/stories/now-or-never-family-to-open-general-stor...
VERNON — Residents missing the community store need worry no longer.
Construction is visible at 67 Governor Hunt Rd.,... more

Former Greensboro Garage to Become Food-Ag CenterBy Sally Pollack as seen in Seven Days: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/former-greensboro-garage-to-become-f...
The big yellow building on Route 15 in Hardwick, the former Greensboro Garage, will become a food and agriculture center, thanks to... more

Green business summit aims to spur national investmentBy Kevin O'Connor as seen in vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2017/08/20/green-business-summit-aims-spur-national...
Paul Costello doesn’t want to talk about the polarizing problem of climate change.
He wants to talk about solutions.
“We have... more

Catalysts of the Climate Economy summit set for VermontAs seen in the Vermont Business Magazine
Vermont will host the Catalysts of the Climate Economy (cc:econ), a three-day national innovation summit on September 6-8. Taking place at the University of Vermont in Burlington, the summit brings together... more

Hawken to keynote national climate innovation summitMontpelier, VT – Environmentalist, entrepreneur, journalist and author Paul Hawken will be the keynote speaker at the Catalysts of the Climate Economy: National Innovation Summit, (cc:econ). The National Innovation Summit is a three-day event being... more

Amid controversy, residents decide on five town projectsBy Jim Therrien, as seen in the Bennington Banner: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/amid-controversy-residents-decid...POWNAL — About 120 town residents whittled down a list of proposed community-oriented projects from 16 to five, but not... more

Pownal's opportunity to leadBy Ted Brady, as seen in the Bennington Banner: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/pownals-opportunity-to-lead,514507
Rural economies across America are struggling to recover from the Great Recession, with economic progress stalling,... more

Pownal program not something to fearAs seen in the Bennington Banner: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/pownal-program-not-something-to-...
Some Pownal residents are highly suspicious of the intent of the Vermont Council on Rural Development's Climate Economy Model Communities... more

Some object to Pownal initiative, call for town voteAs seen in vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2017/07/21/object-pownal-initiative-call-town-vote/
POWNAL — Vermont’s southwestern-most town in April became the first selected by a statewide program aimed at helping communities address the... more

Community looks to unite around ‘One Burke’By Alan Keays, as seen vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2017/07/12/community-looks-unite-around-one-burke/
BURKE — Uniting east and west, as well as the mountain resort and the village below, was a common theme as residents, business owners and... more

Lyndonville Working On Downtown RejuvenationAs seen in the Caledonian Record: http://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/local/lyndonville-working-on-downto...
LYNDONVILLE — A new committee is at work on trying to rejuvenate the downtown.
The group was borne from the recent Community Visit... more

Empowering Pownal: Meeting draws over 100By Jim Therrien, as seen in the Bennington Banner: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/empowering-pownal-meeting-draws-...
POWNAL — More than 100 residents turned out for the launch of Empower Pownal, the state's first initiative under the... more

McGinnis Opinion: Seeing opportunity in climate fightBy Linda McGinnis as seen in the Burlington Free Press: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/opinion/my-turn/2017/06/08/opin...
Vermont is made up of communities that care about each other and our beautiful surroundings. It comes from our... more

First ‘climate economy’ town begins charting its courseAs seen in vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2017/05/14/first-climate-economy-town-begins-charti...
POWNAL — About 30 residents turned out last week to begin planning how to foster a healthy local economy in an era of climate change.
Pownal is... more

First Climate Community initiative launched in PownalBy Jim Therrien, as seen in the Bennington Banner: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/first-climate-community-initiati...
POWNAL — The Vermont Council on Rural Development launched its first Climate Economy Model Communities initiative Tuesday... more

Pownal chosen as first climate economy model communityAs seen in Business Vermont of the Rutland Herald/Times Argus: http://www.businessvermont.com/pownal-chosen-as-first-climate-economy-mo...
POWNAL — Shannon Barsotti, Pownal Planning Commission member, loves to sit on her porch and watch the Hoosic... more

Lyndon’s Community Planning Meeting April 25As seen in the Caledonian Record: http://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/local/lyndon-s-community-planning-m...
The Vermont Council on Rural Development will hold its last major session in the Lyndon Community Visit process on April 25. All residents... more

Vernon halts fiber optic workBy Mike Faher, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: http://www.reformer.com/stories/vernon-halts-fiber-optic-work,504885
VERNON — Despite years of planning and research, it appears that a high-speed fiber optic network isn't coming to Vernon... more

Retreat Farm presents multi-year planBy Chris Mays, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: http://www.reformer.com/stories/retreat-farm-presents-multi-year-plan,50...
BRATTLEBORO — The Retreat Farm recently unveiled a multi-year plan that calls for collaboration between organizations... more

First model climate economy townBy Jim Therrian, as seen in the Bennington Banner: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/first-model-climate-economy-town...
POWNAL — Pownal has been selected as the first Vermont town to receive planning assistance through the Climate Economy... more

YMCA partnership is a win for BenningtonAs seen in the Bennington Banner: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/ymca-partnership-is-a-win-for-be...
The town has known about its need for improved recreational programs since at least 2012 when the Vermont Council on Rural Development... more

Bennington to contract with Berkshire YMCABy Jim Therrien, as seen in the Berkshire Eagle: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/vermont-town-to-contract-with-berk...
Jacobs and Hurd said the impetus for the effort dates to the 2012 Vermont Council on Rural Development Community... more

Officials, Residents Begin Community Visioning ProcessAs seen in the Caledonian Record, by BY AMY ASH NIXON Staff Writer: http://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/local/vt-council-on-rural-developme...
LYNDONVILLE — The first leg of a process aimed at helping the community identify priorities to improve... more

Rural Development Council Coming To LyndonAs seen in the Caledonian Record: http://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/local/rural-development-council-com...
LYNDON CENTER — The entire community is invited to take part in a forum focused on making positive changes for the future of Lyndon and... more

Vermont Climate Economy Action Team ConvenedAs seen in vermontbiz.com: http://www.vermontbiz.com/news/november/vermont-climate-economy-action-t...
A new working group has formed to advance Vermont’s Climate Economy.
Founded by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), the Vermont... more

Vernon eyes Vermont Yankee propertyBy Mike Faher, as seen on vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2016/10/14/vernon-eyes-vy-property/
VERNON — Town officials see an “amazing opportunity” in potential reuse of Vermont Yankee property, though it’s not the property some might initially... more

Vernon committee finds 'interim' space for community storeBy Chris Mays, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: http://www.reformer.com/latestnews/ci_30410266/vernon-committee-finds-in...
VERNON — A committee exploring the prospects for opening a community store has found an "interim" space in the lobby... more

Paul Costello Commentary: Vernon is building its futureAll Vermonters know that the town has taken a hard blow with the decommissioning of Vermont Yankee. The closure has had direct economic impacts on jobs, employee relocations, declining home values, and lost taxes and fees to the town that support... more

Vernon's power production future debatedBy Mike Faher, vtdigger.org: http://vtdigger.org/2016/09/14/vernons-power-production-future-debated/
VERNON - As residents try to imagine Vernon's energy future, some say the former nuclear town should think small.
Officials and experts gathered... more

Manchester River Walk: Showcasing the natural beautyIn 2013, VCRD ran a Community Visit process in Manchester. One of the priorities chosen by the town was to "Redevelop the Riverside and Open a Riverwalk." We're so happy to see this story sharing the progress so far.
Or visit WCAX website: http... more

Residents say they want a community storeAs seen on The Commons: http://www.commonsnews.org/site/site05/story.php?articleno=15418&page=1#...
VERNON—Is a general store in the town’s future?
At least 175 residents think so, according to information provided by Annette Roydon, chair of... more

Business incubator, fiber optics eyed for Vernon’s futureBy Mike Faher, as seen on vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2016/08/29/business-incubator-fiber-optics-eyed-ver...
VERNON — In a basement meeting room just a short walk from the front gate of Vermont Yankee, federal, state and local officials... more

Candidates for governor square off in RutlandBy Gordon Dritschilo, as seen in the Times Argus: http://timesargus.com/article/20160720/THISJUSTIN/160729969
RUTLAND — It was sometimes hard to draw distinctions between Vermont’s gubernatorial candidates Tuesday night.
Democrats Matt Dunne,... more

Vernon Community Action Plan to Be Developed on July 7The Vermont Council on Rural Development will hold its third, and last, major session in the Vernon Community Visit process on July 7th; all residents of the town are welcome to help line up action plans to move priority projects forward.
At the... more

Community: Swanton on the MoveFrom the May 2016 newsletter of the Vermont Arts Council
The arts are alive and growing in this small Franklin County town.
In the first two months of 2015, the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) had the privilege of working with the... more

Morrisville Food Co-op Breaks GroundCongratulations MOCO (Morrisville Co-op) on kicking off their building renovation project. In 2011, VCRD facilitated a Community Visit process in Morrisville that built a local task force to "Develop a Morrisville Coop." We are SO excited to see... more

Video ~ BCTV Open Studio: Vernon Community Visit DayAs seen on BCTV: http://www.brattleborotv.org/bctv-open-studio/open-studio-vernon-communi...
Host Chris Lenois sits down with VT Council on Rural Development Community and Policy Manager Jenna Whitson, Vernon Community Visit Process Chair Art... more

Costello: The Vermont Climate Economy Partnershipby Paul Costello, Executive Director, Vermont Council on Rural Development
At the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) we get to work with rural towns throughout Vermont where we rally everyone to pull together, review all the issues before... more

Vernon gas plant project on hold after losing fuel supplyBy Mike Faher, as seen in vtdigger: https://vtdigger.org/2016/04/21/vernon-gas-plant-project-on-hold/
VERNON — After more than a year of intense planning and debate, the Vernon natural gas plant project has come to an abrupt halt.
Energy giant... more

Post-Vermont Yankee grant program questioned in VernonBy Chris Mays, Brattleboro Reformer: http://www.reformer.com/latestnews/ci_29787299/post-vermont-yankee-grant...
VERNON >> Frustrated Planning Commission members wondered about the success of a grant program that resulted from a settlement... more

House approves $900,000 for ‘Working Lands’ grant programAs seen in vtdigger, by Mike Faher: https://vtdigger.org/2016/04/01/house-approves-900000-for-working-lands-...
BRATTLEBORO — The state House wants to pump more cash into Vermont’s working lands.
The fiscal year 2017 budget bill the House approved... more

Grant to aid Vernon’s post-Vermont Yankee planAs seen in the vtdigger.org:
BRATTLEBORO — Since late 2014, state officials have awarded more than $3.6 million from an economic development fund set up to ease the pain of Vermont Yankee’s closure.
Now, for the first time, some of that money will... more

Work the landAs seen in the Times Argus: http://tablet.olivesoftware.com/olive/Tablet/BarreTimesArgus/SharedArtic...
There’s money in Vermont’s woods. More than that, there’s a way of life. The Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative released a Forest... more

Tech help for job hunters renewedAs seen in the Times Argus: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20160229/NEWS01/160229640/0/NEWS05
MONTPELIER — Job seekers who are computer-challenged have a new technology tool at their fingertips.
Beginning in March, six libraries across Vermont... more

Editorial: Rising tidesAs seen in the Times Argus: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20160225/OPINION01/160229804
A report out this week found that sea levels are rising more rapidly than at any time since the era of ancient Rome. As a result, coastal flooding is... more

Optimism on Vermont’s ‘climate economy’By Gregory Dennis, Addison County Independent: http://www.addisonindependent.com/
When confronted with the latest piece of bad news about climate change – record-high temperatures, devastating floods, the North Pole turned into a giant swimming... more

Audio ~ Can Vermont adapt to climate change?In the midst of one of the warmest winters in memory, how can Vermont adapt to the new realities of climate change? Paul Costello of the Vermont Council on Rural Development has been exploring this issue with community leaders all around Vermont. He... more

VCRD Summit focuses on growing Vt’s green jobsAs seen at Mountain Times: http://mountaintimes.info/vcrd-summit-focuses-on-growing-vts-green-jobs/
RANDOLPH – Strategies for keeping Vermont in the forefront of stimulating the growth of green jobs while reducing carbon emissions were abundant at... more

Communities lead in climate economy effortBy Andy Clark, Times Argus: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20160224/NEWS01/160229839
RANDOLPH — Vermont’s climate economy is a pace-setter for the nation, in large part because of work being done in many communities across the state.
Vermont... more

Video ~ 2016 Climate Economy SummitVCRD Summit Highlights
Talented students from the Emergent Media Center at Champlain College interviewed Summit speakers and participants to capture the spirit of the Summit in video. Their showing of a first draft at the close of the Summit was a... more

Hundreds gather in Randolph for economic climate summitSee the story on WCAX: http://www.wcax.com/story/31285216/hundreds-gather-in-randolph-for-econo...
RANDOLPH, Vt. - Lawmakers and business leaders are fighting climate change and looking to help Vermont cash in at the same time. A summit focused on... more

Video ~ Hardwick Community Visit Vote: Feb 15, 2016
As seen on: http://hctv.us/2016/02/hardwick-community-visit-vote-feb-15-2016/
The VT Council on Rural Development returns to Hardwick to follow up on ideas generated in a series of forums on January 20.
From vtrural.org: “The February 15th... more

Living EconomicallyBy Laurie Caswell Burke, Wind Ridge columnist | As seen at Shelburne News: http://www.shelburnenews.com/2016/02/18/living-economically/
Miss the Paris Climate Summit? Here’s an opportunity much closer to home. A second climate summit in Randolph... more

Times Argus Editorial: Building BlocksAs seen at: http://timesargus.com/article/20160205/OPINION01/160209789/0/SEARCH
About a year ago, the Vermont Council on Rural Development held a daylong summit in Randolph to discuss the economic implications and potential opportunities of climate... more

New report helps Vt. businesses take on climate changeMONTPELIER, Vt. (watch the clip at: http://www.wcax.com/story/31119960/new-report-helps-vt-businesses-take-o...)
A new report aims to help businesses and nonprofits take on climate change.
The 24-member Vermont Climate Change Economy Council says... more

Bold New Strategy Proposed for Vermont’s EconomyContact: Paul Costello, VCRD Executive Director, 223-5763, pcostello@vtrural.org
MONTPELIER, VT – The Vermont Climate Change Economy Council (VCCEC) is proposing a bold new vision and strategy for economic development statewide. With its State... more

Opinion: Sooner or later, a new economyOver the past year, as the Vermont Climate Change Economy Council (of which I was a member), listened to the collective wisdom of the state’s communities, entrepreneurs and policy leaders, one thing became very clear: Sooner or later, it’s going to... more

Chris Brooks: Support Working Lands Enterprise FundAs seen in the vtdigger.org: http://vtdigger.org/2016/01/21/chris-brooks-support-working-lands-enterprise-fund/
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Chris Brooks, who is the CEO and president of Vermont Wood Pellet Co. He is the product of five... more

New Series Features Vermont’s Climate Economy InnovatorsMONTPELIER VT – Today’s innovative Vermont businesses are growing the state’s climate change economy. Examples range from manufacturers of super insulated panels for new buildings to engineers that are designing ways to warm greenhouses using heat... more

Video ~ What’s Next for Vermont’s Climate Change Economy?Area businesses and nonprofits are increasingly involved with climate change--both its challenges and opportunities. Their creative solutions are becoming a growing part of our state’s economy. VCRD hosted 3 public forums to hear from people... more

Audio: Climate Economy Forum planned in BurlingtonBy Pat Bradley, WAMC Radio, as seen on: http://wamc.org/post/climate-economy-forum-planned-burlington#stream/0
Listen to the story here: http://cpa.ds.npr.org/wamc/audio/2015/10/patb10-27climate-economy-forum.MP3
A forum is planned this week in... more

Northern Vermont Climate Economy Forum October 29 MONTPELIER, VT – A regional forum focusing on the opportunity to create jobs while developing innovative solutions to stem the impact of climate change will take place at Contois Auditorium in Burlington’s City Hall on Thursday, October 29, from 7-... more

Opinion: Beyond panels and turbinesBy Gov. Peter Shumlin, as seen in the Burlington Free Press: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/opinion/my-turn/2015/10/15/opin...
When we talk about renewable energy, the focus is often on the project – the solar panel or the wind turbine... more

Committee looks at changing government structuresBy Erin Mansfield as seen in vtdigger.org: http://vtdigger.org/2015/10/14/committee-looks-at-changing-government-st...
The Legislature’s committee on government restructuring met for the first time Tuesday and plans to have a report done in... more

‘Working Lands’ supporters lobby for fundingBy Mike Faher, as seen in the vtdigger.org: http://vtdigger.org/2015/10/11/working-lands-supporters-lobby-for-fundin...
BRATTLEBORO – Creamy goat-milk caramels have become a big business for Townshend’s Big Picture Farm.
And as the farm underwent... more

Efficiency help needed, energy advocates sayBy Mike Faher as seen in vtdigger.org: http://vtdigger.org/2015/10/08/efficiency-help-needed-energy-advocates-say/
BRATTLEBORO – From urine recycling to shiitake mushrooms to electrically-assisted bikes, those attending a “Climate Change Economy”... more

Manchester gets $580K to improve busy roadAs seen in the Rutland Herald: http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150930/THISJUSTIN/709309907
MANCHESTER — Manchester will receive a grant of $580,000 from the Vermont Agency of Transportation to enhance Depot Street and make it more friendly... more

‘Climate Change Economy’ talks coming to BrattleboroBy Mike Faher, http://vtdigger.org/2015/09/30/climate-change-economy-talks-coming-to-br...
BRATTLEBORO – For years, local officials and energy-efficiency advocates have been working to nurture and promote a “green building” industry in Windham... more

Grinold: Climate change and our local economyby Adam Grinold, Executive Director, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation
On October 6, Southern Vermont will host the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s Regional Public Forum on Advancing Vermont’s Climate Change Economy. It takes place... more

Forum airs out solar issuesBy Gordon Dritschilo as seen in the Rutland Herald: http://www.rutlandherald.com/
The tension surrounding renewable energy development was captured in an exchange Wednesday night at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland.
The theater was hosting a forum... more

Opinion: Climate change economyEditorial as seen in the Rutland Herald: http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150825/OPINION01/708259959/1038
Vermonters will gather Wednesday evening at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland to chart new steps in creating what is being called a “... more

Climate Change Economy Council seeks public inputBy Kevin O'Conner as seen on vtdigger.org: http://vtdigger.org/2015/08/16/climate-change-economy-council-seeks-publ...
A new Vermont Climate Change Economy Council — composed of two-dozen business, public policy and environmental leaders — is... more

Students Traverse Vermont on Food Systems TourBy Leon Thompson Vermont Correspondent, Lancaster Farming: http://www.lancasterfarming.com/news/northeedition/Students-Traverse-Vermont-on-Food-Systems-Tour#.VcuoOfm2KW5
ST. ALBANS, Vt. — Long Island native Kasey Wien had never been to a dairy farm... more

Field Day: The Summer Study Tour Blog
Check out the Summer Study Tour Blog by Ivars Balkits, the media fellow of the Vermont Summer Study Tour. An adventurer by nature with a background in agriculture and ecology, Ivars currently hails from the midwest. Discover the Vermont food... more

Vermont: America’s Food Relocalization LaboratoryBy Steve Holt, Civil Eats: http://civileats.com/2015/05/12/vermont-americas-food-relocalization-lab...
If most Americans were to rank the nation’s most influential states, chances are Vermont would not make many lists. But it should.
Quietly,... more

Testimony to Senate Appropriations: April 7, 2015Madam Chair and Members of the Vermont Senate Appropriations Committee:
I am Paul Costello, Executive Director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development. I’m here to speak as the coordinator for the Vermont Working Lands Coalition to ask you to... more

‘Maple Fest” brings community together By Josh Ogorman, Times Argus: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20150322/THISJUSTIN/703229951
CABOT — What a sweet way to foster a tighter community.
Several hundred people turned out at Cabot School on Saturday for Maple Fest, an annual... more

Letter to the editor: Working lands program worthwhile A Page 1 article in Sunday’s Times Argus (“Serving notice”) notes that the Vermont food system is currently undergoing unprecedented growth, “from $6.9 billion to $8.6 billion between 2007 and 2012, according to figures from the Vermont Sustainable... more

And now is the time to watch Swanton growSt. Albans Town has Walmart and two growth districts open for development. St. Albans City is in the homestretch in its effort to rebuild its downtown through a $41 million building project. Now, eight miles north, the community of Swanton is coming... more

Opinion: A crisis and an opportunityPublished in the Times Argus: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20150308/OPINION06/703089979
By Brian Shupe, Executive Director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council
Many people have raised alarms about the need to do something about climate... more

A call for actionBy Steve Pappas, Times Argus: www.timesargus.com
A summit at Vermont Technical College on Wednesday showed exactly how far Vermont has progressed when it comes to climate change, but also how far we still have to go if we want to be economically... more

Opinion: Moving forward on climate change By Bill Laberge, owner of Grassroots Solar, and published in the Times Argus: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20150301/OPINION06/703019960/1014
Despite the thermometer suggesting otherwise, the February sun is starting to give us the sense of... more

Summit to tackle climate change, economyThis week’s Summit on Creating Prosperity and Opportunity Confronting Climate Change isn’t about the debate over climate change, organizers say.
Instead, it’s about how to use climate change to benefit Vermont’s economy.
The summit Wednesday at... more

Video ~ Paul Costello and Ted Brady on City RoomThis 28 minute program gives a good overview of the Climate Economy Summit and Initiative.
City Room with Steve Pappas: Paul Costello and Ted Brady of Vermont Council on Rural Development from Central Vermont Television on Vimeo.

Nate Freeman: Vermont’s climate questionsBy Nate Freeman. Published in vtdigger.org: http://vtdigger.org/2015/02/15/nate-freeman-vermonts-climate-questions/
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Nate Freeman, who is director of ClimatePlanners Consulting and program coordinator for the... more

Townspeople seek help to create and cultivate communityBy Alana Fichman/The Commons: http://www.commonsnews.org/site/site05/story.php?articleno=11637&page=1#...
VERNON—Some of the 44 people who assembled in the combined auditorium/cafeteria at Vernon Elementary School were disappointed at the... more

Digital tools having big impact on Vermont farmsIn one way or other, Vermont farmers have always been drawn to new technologies, from innovations in horse-drawn plows to devices that bring them essential weather updates. Today, rapid advancements in digital tools are putting remarkable... more

Allison Hooper Opinion: Connect people, places and foodPublished in the Burlington Free Press: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/opinion/my-turn/2015/01/22/opin...
In Paris during my junior year of college, I spent the summer working on an organic farm. The French know where their food comes... more

Southern Vt. town revisits fluoridationBy Patrick McArdle, Times Argus: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20150121/NEWS03/701219903
BENNINGTON — Voters in Bennington will be asked in March to weigh in on whether they want the town’s water supply fluoridated but the question is only... more

Vermont Climate Economy InitiativeFrom Green Energy Times: http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2014/12/15/vermont-climate-economy-initi...
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is kicking off its new Climate Change Economy Initiative with the Summit on Creating Prosperity and... more

Wired in Waterbury: Free Internet accessBy Matt Mientka | Waterbury Record
Waterbury now has the largest downtown free Wi-Fi coverage in Vermont.
The public Wi-Fi network, completed this month, encompasses Stowe and Main streets and allows access from Rusty Parker Park, the Waterbury... more

Letter to the editor: Fund working lands programPublished in the Times Argus: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20141209/OPINION02/712099926
The Working Lands Enterprise Fund, an innovative and imaginative idea, was created in 2012 by Act 142. Its purpose is “to stimulate a concerted economic... more

Montpelier farmers market has multiple winter homesPublished in the Times Argus: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20141202/THISJUSTIN/312029999
MONTPELIER — The Capital City Farmers Market is kicking off its winter season Saturday with a new website and a pair of new venues.
With the loss of its... more

New Initiative to Advance Vermont’s “Climate Economy”Can Vermont be a national leader in incubating small businesses that answer climate change? The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) thinks so.
The organization is announcing a new initiative designed to rally business, policy and community... more

New green push aims to grow Vt. jobsBy Kevin O'Connor, Times Argus - http://www.timesargus.com/article/20141026/THISJUSTIN/710269963
Can Vermont simultaneously jumpstart its job market and help stop global warming?
That’s the goal of organizers of a new Vermont Climate Change... more

Close the digital dividehttp://www.timesargus.com/article/20140925/OPINION01/709259945/1021
By Steve Pappas, Times Argus - A few hundred Vermonters made history at the State House this week. While a few of them were lawmakers, the vast majority of the participants were... more

Summit addresses Vermont's digital economyMONTPELIER -- Vermont is on the right track toward developing a digital economy and has more to do, Gov. Peter Shumlin told an audience at the Statehouse on Tuesday.
Shumlin gave the keynote speech at a daylong summit in Montpelier organized by the... more

Got Tech? Industry Wants To Be Part of Vermont's Imagehttp://digital.vpr.net/post/got-tech-industry-wants-be-part-vermonts-image
By Steve Zind, VPR - Vermont high tech companies say the state’s way of life is a powerful calling card for the kind of clean industry it hopes to attract, but they would... more

Conference Assesses Vermont’s Future Digital Economyhttp://wamc.org/post/conference-assesses-vermont-s-future-digital-economy
By Pat Bradley, WAMC Northeast Radio - A daylong conference was held at the statehouse in Montpelier Tuesday to highlight what technological and digital innovations could... more

Audio ~ VT Connected Summit on the Mark Johnson ShowMark Johnson interviewed 5 participants of the VT Connected Summit of September 23, 2014. Here are the links to the Show broken into 2 parts:
http://markjohnsonshow.podbean.com/e/92314-vermont-digital-economy-pt-1/ - Alex Tursi of Fletcher Allen,... more

Improving Vermont's digital economyBy Alexei Rubenstein, WCAX - http://www.wcax.com/story/26609277/improving-vermonts-digital-economy
WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
MONTPELIER, Vt. - In the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, most of the visible damage was to Vermont's... more

Digital economy summit addresses Vermont’s ‘brand’By Hilary Niles, VtDigger.org - http://vtdigger.org/2014/09/23/adapting-vermonts-brand-surfaces-digital-...
Vermont is on the right track toward developing a digital economy and has more to do, Gov. Peter Shumlin told an audience at the Statehouse... more

Got Tech? Industry Wants To Be Part of Vermont's ImageVermont high tech companies say the state’s way of life is a powerful calling card for the kind of clean industry it hopes to attract, but they would like state officials to do more to market itself to attract new business.
The “Envisioning the... more

VT Digital Economy Project
July 21, 2014 A look at how the VT Council on Rural Development has given local communities a technology boost following Tropical Storm Irene, including a conversation with Tess Gauthier of The Snelling Center. Also, Morning Almanac with Arlo... more

Bennington gets new Wi-Fi serviceBENNINGTON, Vt. - Surfing the Internet in Bennington is getting a whole lot easier.
A new Wi-Fi service is up and running downtown. The free access is part of an effort by Vermont's Council on Rural Development to get communities connected.
It's... more

Bennington’s downtown now a Wi-Fi zoneBy Patrick McArdle
BENNINGTON — It’s a digital world, and visitors and residents alike can now get free access to it through the public Wi-Fi zone in downtown Bennington.
People using laptops, tablets and smartphones can connect to the Internet... more

The creative economyIt's nice to see that the work we did with the Council on Culture and Innovation is still making news:
From: http://www.stowetoday.com/stowe_reporter/opinion/weekly_editorial/article_c1c3fe14-0842-11e4-9c94-0019bb2963f4.html
Congratulations to... more

Wi-Fi and Broadband Spreading Through Vermontby Alex Rose
Waterbury, Vt.- Some people are attached to their phones, and connecting to Wi-Fi on your Smartphone, brings the internet to our fingertips.
"Internet access is a basic need for participation in the economic life, civic life, social... more

Farm, forestry projects share $1.1 millionBy LISA RATHKE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MORETOWN — Vermont awarded $1.1 million to 37 farm and forestry projects around the state Tuesday in the second year it offered working lands grants.
Among the recipients is Grow Compost of Vermont LLC, which is... more

Costello Commentary: Vergennes on the MoveVergennes — With all its assets, Vergennes epitomizes so much that Vermont communities statewide strive for: a strong village center, surrounded by a beautiful working landscape, strong, committed community members, a dynamic and balanced downtown... more

In the zoneBy Miranda Orso
Free, public Wi-Fi in downtown Waterbury
Parts of downtown Waterbury are now in the zone — a free public Wi-Fi zone. A new “wireless mesh network” of access points was recently installed around downtown.
The new system is... more

Halifax gets a wifi spotBy CHRIS MAYS / Reformer Staff
HALIFAX -- There will be wireless Internet access after a wifi hotspot was set up at the Halifax Town Garage located at 2044 Branch Road last week.
"It's in place now," said Halifax Selectboard member Edee Edwards. "... more

Time bank thriving after one yearBENNINGTON -- What started out as five people thinking a time bank would be a neat idea has grown over the past year to boast 84 members who have exchanged 343 hours between each other.
Hour of Our Community
The Hour of Our Community time bank... more

VCRD and IBM partner for a more resilient VermontFinal IBM disaster preparedness workshop with the Vermont FoodBank wraps up $150,000 IBM grant
MONTPELIER - On Thursday, June 5th, IBM specialists will deliver a disaster preparedness workshop to Vermont FoodBank members from flood-prone... more

Video ~ New Wi-Fi zones popping up in Vt.Caitlin Lovegrove, Outreach and Network Manager of VCRD's Digital Economy Project, and Chris Campbell of the Vermont Telecom Authority talk about new Wi-Fi zones being installed by the Vermont Digital Economy Project.
http://www.wcax.com/story/... more

Vergennes residents rank community prioritiesVergennes — Over 100 Vergennes residents gathered in a community meeting last week to consider the ideas that were discussed through the Vergennes Community Visit process and to set priorities for action.
At the Community Meeting participants... more

Wi-Fi could be part of downtown’s futureBy David Delcore
April 07, 2014
BARRE — You probably won’t be able to watch Netflix in City Hall Park, but surfing the Internet from your laptop, tablet or smartphone without doing a number on your data plan could soon be an added attraction to... more

Guilford looks at town plan, village centerBy MIKE FAHER / Reformer Staff
GUILFORD -- Last year, with help from the Vermont Council on Rural Development, Guilford residents came together at two well-attended meetings to brainstorm ideas for the town's future.
Members of the Guilford... more

Community Visit - One Year Laterby Anna Boarini - Staff Writer for the Manchester Journal
MANCHESTER - A little over a year ago, on March 11, 2013, the first of three community forums fostered by the Vermont Council for Rural Development and the genesis for the Manchester 2020... more

Vt. Investments Put Landscapes to WorkBy Amy Shollenberger, http://www.dailyyonder.com/vt-investments-put-landscapes-work/2014/02/13/7207
In a state that is mostly forests and farmland, the Working Lands Enterprise initiative helps landowners generate income while protecting open space... more

Joint town/school budget presentation to be held next weekBENNINGTON -- It may seem like an obvious thing to do, but for the first time the local school district and the Select Board will host a joint budget presentation.
"Better informed"
The presentation is on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Bennington Fire... more

New public Wi-Fi areas added in VermontMONTPELIER, VT. — The Vermont Council on Rural Development says there are more public access points for Wi-Fi that are part of the Vermont Digital Economy Project.
Their installation team reports adding wireless hotspots in Stockbridge, Killington... more

Grants allow agricultural businesses to expandBy Peter Hirschfeld, Vermont Public Radio
For Joe Buely, there was the matter of the potatoes. As Buely’s burgeoning soup-making operation took hold, the process of removing skin from spud was consuming ever greater portions of his employees’ work... more

Securing the Future of Vermont’s Working LandscapeBy Jeremy Carter, The Bridge: http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2014/01/securing-the-future-of-vermonts-...
On December 17, 2013, temperatures plummeted, snow plastered the streets and schools closed. And yet, inside Vermont Technical College in... more

Front Porch Forum on WKVTMichale Wood-Lewis discusses Front Porch Forum, and how the Vermont Digital Economy Project helped its statewide expansion, on WKVT. You can find the original audio here.

Marlboro gets WiFi hotspotBy HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN / Reformer Staff
MARLBORO -- Town residents who can’t get broadband, and who are frustrated with the slow pace of upgrading their service at home, now have an option when trying to get online.
The town center has a new Wi-Fi... more

Stroll's Munzing gets community leadership awardBRATTLEBORO -- Strolling of the Heifers founder Orly Munzing this week received the 2013 Vermont Community Leadership Award from the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Munzing was honored at the end of the council's 2013 Summit on the Future of... more

Leaders eye ‘working landscape’By Kevin O'Connor, Times Argus: RANDOLPH — When Gov. Peter Shumlin was growing up a half-century ago, Vermont’s agricultural engine was fueled by milk: “If you had asked people outside the dairy industry then to get together and talk about how we’re... more

Working Lands Summit Shows Return on InvestmentRANDOLPH, VT -- Over 350 Vermonters gathered at Vermont Technical College on Tuesday for a day of celebration, learning, and reporting on the results of the Working Lands Enterprise Fund investments. The Future of Vermont's Working Landscape Summit... more

Vt. summit aims to seed ‘working landscape’RANDOLPH — When Gov. Peter Shumlin was growing up a half-century ago, Vermont’s agricultural engine was fueled by milk: “If you had asked people outside the dairy industry then to get together and talk about how we’re going to make more value-added... more

Can Vermont Forestry Be As Popular As Vermont Farming?By Steve Zind, Vermont Public Radio
Business owners, public officials, policy makers and advocates gathered Tuesday at a summit in Randolph Center to take stock of efforts to preserve the state’s working landscape.One of the conversations that took... more

VCRD honors Orly Munzing with Community Leadership AwardThe Vermont Council on Rural Development has presented its 2013 Vermont Community Leadership Award to Orly Munzing, founder and executive director of Strolling of the Heifers.
The award was announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17 during the Council’s 2013... more

Letter: Vermont Working Lands Summit To the Editor:
On Dec. 17, hundreds of Vermonters will come together at Vermont Technical Center in Randolph to celebrate the success of the Working Lands Enterprise Fund and to identify actions to encourage policymakers to continue this important... more

Gathering to celebrate, foster Vermont's rural renaissanceRandolph — On Dec. 17, hundreds of Vermonters will come together at Vermont Technical Center to celebrate the success of the Working Lands Enterprise Fund and to identify actions to encourage policymakers to continue this important work. Farmers,... more

Celebrating working landsOn Dec. 17, hundreds of Vermonters will come together at Vermont Technical Center to celebrate the success of the Working Lands Enterprise Fund and to identify actions to encourage policymakers to continue this important work.
The summit is being... more

Guilford plans for futureGUILFORD (By MIKE FAHER) -- Having decided where they want to go, Guilford residents now will try to figure out how to get there.
As the latest step in a planning process organized by the Vermont Council on Rural Development, residents have settled... more

Free Wi-Fi, new website for townWILMINGTON- Thanks to a new website and a new free wireless Internet zone, Wilmington is moving forward in its quest to become a digitally efficient municipality.
The town now has “the Wilmington connection,” a Wi-Fi zone that provides online... more

How a hackathon can transform your communityWhat started as an uphill battle in Burlington, Vermont on the National Day of Civic Hacking in June 2013, transversed into an understanding between local government, non-profits, the media, and the community four months later. What they came to... more

Thoughts about our working landscapeThe experience and evolution of Vermont’s working landscape has been in my thinking recently, particularly as our communities work on issues of solar arrays, wind towers, and zoning regulations with respect to views and landscaping.
In my personal... more

Wilmington to launch new website and Wi-Fi zoneWILMINGTON, VT - The town of Wilmington, Vermont will be celebrating the arrival of a free and public downtown Wi-Fi zone called “The Wilmington Connection,” as well as the launch the town’s new municipal website (wilmingtonvermont.us) at a special... more

Improving economic fortunes in the Route 30/100 corridorTOWNSHEND -- With a limitless amount of ideas, town officials and business owners jumped at the chance to spark conversation regarding opportunities within the West River Valley.
"It's going to take folks lining up together and saying, 'How do we... more

Vt. Aims To Become Food Systems Education Leaderby LISA RATHKE, Associated Press
MONTPELIER -- Vermont, with its reputation for handcrafted premium cheeses, pure maple syrup and craft beers, now wants to become a national leader in food systems education.
Several Vermont colleges and... more

Vermont aims to become hub of food systems educationMONTPELIER (AP) -- Known for its commitment to local foods and its artisanal cheeses, maple syrup and even beer, Vermont now hopes to become a national hub for food systems education.
On Thursday, the presidents of the University of Vermont,... more

Food systems proposal crucialEditorial by Emerson Lynn, St. Albans Messenger: http://www.samessenger.com/
Vermont is not flush with products or services that lend themselves to national brands of any significant scale. We have neither the population nor the central location to... more

Colleges Will Share Students To Boost Food & Ag Educationby Steve Zind, Vermont Public Radio
A group of Vermont public and private higher learning institutions has announced a plan to share students and programs in an effort to boost the state’s image as an education center for agriculture and food... more

Conference Focuses on Financing Working LandsVermont Public Radio: http://digital.vpr.net/post/conference-focuses-financing-working-lands
According to those working to improve farming and forestry opportunities in Vermont, the state is experiencing a renaissance. There’s an influx of... more

In A Digital World, Some Towns Working Hard To Keep UpBy Katy Savage
Virginia Lancaster started the Barnard Bulletin 20 years ago when she realized people in town were not prepared when it came time for Town Meeting. She mailed it free to every registered voter. Now, the 4-8 page monthly news flier... more

Online forum connects Vermont residents in rural townsMONTPELIER -- When Tropical Storm Irene flooded mountain valley towns in Vermont two years ago, some savvy residents turned to social media to rally for help and spread news.
Their posts on Facebook pages and other community forums were answered in... more

Like the Food Shelf on FacebookFor The Woodstock Community Food Shelf
Remember back when Irene was imminent and you were wondering how long power and phone would stay connected? Somewhere in the midst of the storm, we here in Woodstock, and in Bridgewater and Reading, were cut... more

$18K grant heading to ManchesterMANCHESTER - An $18,000 grant from the Vermont Agency of Transportation could result in a new sidewalk and improved crosswalks in downtown Manchester, according to a town official.
"We're looking at opportunities and constraints to building a new... more

Riverwalk work party set MANCHESTER - The Manchester Riverwalk Association will be holding a Riverwalk Work Day on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting at the town green.
This spring, after a visioning exercise with the Vermont Council on Rural Development,... more

Front Porch Forum to go statewideBy Neal Goswami
MONTPELIER — An online forum allowing local communities to share information or seek and offer assistance to neighbors is set for a statewide rollout with backing from the Vermont Council on Rural Development.
Front Porch Forum,... more

Front Porch Forum expands to every Vermont townThe Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) and Front Porch Forum (FPF) jointly announce today that Front Porch Forum has expanded and is now available statewide in every Vermont town and neighborhood. Today’s announcement is made possible after... more

Digital Infrastructure Gets Boost In Flooded TownsBy STEVE ZIND
Resiliency has been a buzzword ever since Tropical Storm Irene.
The goal of resiliency is to improve the ability of communities to recover from natural disasters. In some cases that involves building bigger culverts and better... more

Vt. Public Wi-Fi Creates Broadband OptionsBroadband and Tech | Main Street Economics
Vermont builds a wi-fi network for its downtown, providing students, businesses and residents with a new way to get online. For the town of 2,000, that means more opportunity -- and less time in the... more

The Northeast Kingdom growth surgeCommentary by John McClaughry
On June 15 some 120 people from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom came together for a session at Lake Region High School on “building action to advance the health and prosperity of NEK communities while maintaining their... more

Village walking tour and Wi-Fi get nodby Jack Deming
Wilmington village could get a mak­eover if a design plan is approved and acted on.
WILMINGTON- The select­board approved two projects totaling $11,000 for the 1% option tax fund allotment for the second quarter, .
At a meeting... more

Bennington’s First Fridays back on track for JulyBENNINGTON -- Throughout the summer season and into October, Downtown Bennington will hold "First Friday" celebrations on the first Friday of every month.
The concept for Bennington’s First Fridays stemmed from a Vermont Council on Rural... more

Pellet company ups output with grantVermont Wood Pellet Company was among 16 companies and organizations to share more than $750,000 in grants from the Working Lands Enterprise Fund.
The North Clarendon pellet mill received a $38,153 infrastructure grant that will allow the company... more

2013 Working Lands grants awardedMONTPELIER — The state has announced $750,000 in grants as part of its Working Lands Enterprise Initiative. The grants for service providers as well as capital and infrastructure were given as part of the first round of grants in those categories.... more

Windham County rakes in big grantsBRATTLEBORO -- Windham County's agricultural business community got a big boost Tuesday when the latest recipients of the state's Working Lands Enterprise Fund were announced.
More than $750,000 in grants were given out to 16 grantees at a... more

Working Lands awards $750,000 in 2013 grantsVermonters in the forestry and agriculture sectors got a helping hand from the state on Tuesday. The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative awarded 16 local businesses a total of $750,000 in grant money at an event at Beaver Brook Farm in Marshfield,... more

NEK Today and Tomorrow: Development drives discussionBy Hilary Niles, vtdigger.org: http://vtdigger.org/2013/06/17/nek-today-and-tomorrow-development-drives-discussion/
Bill Stenger found more money than he knew what to do with when he started developing the year-round water park that opened at Jay... more

A Day for Economic DevelopmentBy Katie Mettler
Valley News Staff Writer
(Published in print: Friday, June 14, 2013)
South Royalton — It was a day of firsts on the green in South Royalton yesterday. The town’s grant-funded public wifi was unveiled and the third annual BALE... more

Waterbury VT Getting Boost From Digital Economy ProjectWaterbury is getting another boost as it recovers from its flooding. This time from the Vermont Digital Economy project.
A $1.8 million grant will benefit 25 towns impacted by flooding including Waterbury.
The town will soon see many benefits... more

Towns Get Wi-FiBethel, South Royalton Will Benefit
By Molly Mattern
Tropical Storm Irene, which devastated local communities in 2011, has imparted a surprising gift to the towns of Royalton and Bethel this summer.
On Thursday, June 13 at 3 p.m. on the Royalton... more

Interview with Paul CostelloReproduced here with permission, this interview appeared in the June-July 2013 issue of Vermont Property Owners Report, a bimonthly subscription newsletter about Vermont and Vermont real estate. For more information, call 802-229-2433, or visit www.... more

Morrisville Food Co-op to hold meetingThe Morrisville Food Co-op (MoCo) Task Force is holding a community meeting, “Community Engagement 2013,” on June 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Peoples Academy in Morrisville, to launch its member/ownership pledge drive and talk about the next steps in... more

Community sets action stepsMANCHESTER - Tuesday night marked the final of three meetings in Manchester's 2020 Community Visit series. The gathering brought the community back together to focus on their four defined priorities - developing a small business incubator, becoming... more

Bethel Will Get Wi-FiWhole Village Area Would Be Served
By Jennie Marx
The Bethel Business Association hosted a presentation on the downtown Bethel public Wi-Fi grant April 17 at the former Breaking Grounds building.
The town applied for the technology grant, which... more

Mihaly Commentary: Changing the worldVtDigger.org editor’s note: This op-ed is by Marc Mihaly, the president and dean of Vermont Law School. He is an expert in land use, urban planning, and energy law and policy.
Vermont Law School is here for people who want to change the world. We... more

Community Visit sets four goalsMANCHESTER, by staff writer Brandon Canevari - After a three hour session, Manchester residents as well as some from surrounding towns narrowed the vision for the future of Manchester during the second Community Visit last Thursday night.
More than... more

Manchester sets four community prioritiesMANCHESTER — At the second public session for Manchester’s community visit, the community narrowed down a list of goals to four priorities for improving the town’s draw for tourists, economic future and educational opportunities.
By the end of the... more

Hotspots: Board discusses digital economy grantBy CHRIS MAYS / Reformer Staff
HALIFAX -- The Selectboard met with representatives from the Vermont Digital Economy Project on April 2 to discuss the grant the town was recently awarded from the Vermont Council on Rural Development.
"The Vermont... more

Community Visitors returnMANCHESTER, Andrew McKeever - The time is approaching for Community Visit, the sequel.
Three weeks ago more than 300 area residents converged on four locations across town to take part in one or more community forums and discussions on issues... more

Manchester Community VisitThere was so much to reflect on following last week's Community Visit organized by a local group of community leaders and the Vermont Council on Rural Development that it's hard to know where to start.
So we'll start from the beginning. First, the... more

Manchester explores its futureMANCHESTER -- On the one hand, challenges - youth emigration; lack of nightlife; a need for more regional transportation; more integrated communication. On the other hand, opportunities - beautiful natural scenery; a vibrant arts and cultural scene... more

Focusing on opportunities, challengesMANCHESTER - More than 300 people from Manchester and the surrounding area participated in nine different discussions on Monday, part of a "Community Visit" organized by the Vermont Council on Rural Development.
The nine topics of discussion around... more

Video ~ Manchester 2020 Community Visit DayProduced by Greater Northshire Access TV (GNAT), this video filmed during the Manchester 2020 Community Visit day dinner gives a great overview of the day, and includes interviews of visiting team members and community members.

Community visit comes to Manchester todayMANCHESTER — Residents of Manchester are encouraged to come out today and take part in the Community Visit process by helping to set priorities for the town and bringing their views to discussions about what steps Manchester should take in the... more

Costello Commentary: Investing in Working LandsLast year Act 142 established the Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) and Fund.
Act 142 was both the jobs bill of 2012 and the agriculture and forest products policy bill of the decade. It established a unifying and nonpartisan platform to... more

Orton Commentary: Working LandscapeAfter 65 years of decline, Vermont's working landscape - farm and forest - is poised to reverse that trend with the help of two critical applications - and I don't mean manure and lime.
The first application is at the ready, an enthusiastic... more

Working Lands Coalition 5x3 campaign launch in the pressHere are a few recent articles about the launch of the Coalitions 5x3 campaign requesting $5M for each of the next three years:
Big rush for 'Working Lands' cash, Brattleboro Reformer
State officials knew there was a demand for more cash to... more

A tale of three citiesBy Tara Kelly, in A Weekly Column from the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the communities I’ve lived in and their relationships with local food and agriculture.
Growing up in the Boston area during the 70’s and 80... more

After a busy couple of years, what's next for Manchester?Manchester Journal, 01/23/13 ~ One Roundabout. Check. A Park House. Check. New Visitor's Center. New streetlights, refurbished Adams Park, plus a new parking lot for a historic district. Town wifi - at least for a downtown sliver. Check, check check... more

Vermont's New Front PorchBy Helen Labun Jordan, published in the Daily Yonder
For over a decade, the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) has rallied rural communities to identify and act on key local concerns. These concerns almost invariably include community... more

Leonard Bull: Hope springs for Vermont agricultureLast year, the Vermont Legislature created the Working Lands Enterprise Fund and seeded it with a small investment of $1 million. We are now seeing our seeds growing, as agricultural and forest products enterprises have actively applied for the... more

Donath Commentary ~ Working lands, our Vermont homeEditor’s note: This op-ed is by David A. Donath, president of the Woodstock Foundation, which operates the Billings Farm & Museum, an operating dairy farm dedicated to telling the story of Vermont’s rural heritage. He is co-editor of a... more

Vermont's Smallest City Thinks BigThe citizens of Vergennes have set the top three priorities for their city, in an effort to take a big picture approach to planning for the future. More than 100 people turned out to a community meeting last week. It was the second event in a three-... more

'Community Visit' in the worksMANCHESTER - Sometime in early 2013, the Town of Manchester will participate in the Vermont Council on Rural Development's "Community Visit Program," an initiative geared towards connecting community building efforts in Vermont towns with state-wide... more

Mount Abe opens computer labs to communityBRISTOL — Mount Abraham Union High School has launched an impressive array of educational programs in the past few weeks.
With support from an e-Vermont grant, which supports computer literacy in communities across the state, as well as a grant... more

eVermont Leaves Legacy of Help, ToolsBy Wayne Hanson
All good things must end, the saying goes, and eVermont, a stimulus-funded program of the Vermont Council on Rural Development -- designed to increase broadband adoption in rural Vermont -- recently completed its two-year run.... more

Jordan Commentary: Closing the digital divide in VermontEditor’s note: This op-ed is by Helen Labun Jordan, project director of the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project at the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Find their work online at www.e4vt.org.
The good news is that a little more than a year... more

Rutland Creek Path gets $295KIn 2006, VCRD brought its Creative Communities program to Rutland. Rutland community members embraced the concepts and remain committed and energized as they continue to advance projects designed to make Rutland a more dynamic, exciting, and fun... more

e-Vermont broadband effort benefited townsPutting broadband to work for Vermont was the directive of e-Vermont, an initiative seeking to expand access to and make better use of high speed Internet throughout all parts of the state. Locally, the program resulted in netbooks for students,... more

VISTA volunteers to work with local communityBENNINGTON -- A pair of volunteers from a federal program will be attached to the local hospital for the next year, working with youth to address poverty and nutrition in the Bennington area.
...one thing the students may help with is the expansion... more

Planning Commission Welcomes Agripreneurs to HinesburgHere's an email update we received from a member of the Hinesburg Planning Commission.
Paul,
Keep up the forward progress on the Working Landscape Partnership! I thought you might like to hear about one of your success stories in progress.... more

"Madness" gets Main Street hoppingBENNINGTON -- Downtown retailers were open late for the "most important night of the year to be on Main Street" -- the third Thursday in July, known as Midnight Madness in Bennington.
For nearly four decades, since 1963, the once-a-year event has... more

Little City downtown gets wifiVERGENNES — Free wifi now blankets downtown Vergennes, courtesy of the eVermont grant the city won in 2010. The Bixby Free Memorial Library served as the lead applicant for that grant, with support from the Vergennes partnership.
Wifi service... more

Downtown Morristown battles setbacksBy Lisa McCormack
Last summer, it seemed downtown Morristown was about to experience a renaissance.
• Two affordable-housing agencies signed a contract to buy and renovate three empty buildings that had housed Arthur’s Department Store. Shops,... more

New law aims to grow Vt farming, forestrySHOREHAM, Vt. - If there is any question how important rolling fields and forests are to Vermont, consider this.
"Agriculture is in the neighborhood of 20 percent of the land base, forestry is about 75 percent and that is most of our landscape, and... more

Vermont's digital future envisoned at conferenceIn his opening remarks at the recent Vermont’s Digital Future Conference, Gov. Peter Shumlin said Internet service at his Putney home is behind that of Vietnam, Cambodia and Croatia. “It’s behind most of the undeveloped world, and most of the 49... more

Video ~ Technology to connect VermontersTechnology is so important to economic and educational vitality no matter where you live. Charlie Baker, executive director of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, hosts panelists Paul Costello, executive director for the Vermont... more

Tom Slayton Commentary: Working landscape is our signatureI believe that the working landscape of Vermont — that familiar tapestry of farm fields, forests, small cities and compact villages — is vital to the future of Vermont, and is endangered.
The working landscape is part of the signature of our state... more

Landscape at workThe passage of a bill this year to boost farm and forest enterprise says something about the pervasive and enduring commitment of Vermonters to the rural character of their state.
The bill was the product of extensive work by the Council on Rural... more

Working lands’ viewed as victory in House and SenateBy PETER HIRSCHFELD, VERMONT PRESS BUREAU
MONTPELIER — The idea wasn’t new — energize a flagging agriculture sector by treating farm-based enterprises like dot.com startups.
But backers of the “working lands” program proposed at the outset of the... more

Vt. Senate Passes 'Working Lands' BillThe Vermont Senate has passed a bill designed to jump start farm and forestry projects. The "working lands" bill sets up a board that will oversee a fund to promote agriculture and forest ventures.
Senate President pro tem John Campbell says he... more

Vermont Senate approves working landscape billBENNINGTON -- The Vermont Senate gave final approval Monday to a bill that proponents say will enhance the state’s farming and forest industries.
The Working Lands Enterprise Investment bill, which aims to boost agriculture and small businesses and... more

“Technology Meets Community” PSAThis 30 second Public Service Announcement was produced for e-Vermont by a team at the South Burlington school system. Thanks to students Riya Patel and Neel Desai and Jay Hoffman, Technology teacher at the Tuttle Middle School for coming up with... more

Stuart Hurd column: Communitywide efforts exerpt
On April 12, I attended the Community Day follow-up meeting. More than 100 people came to the Fire Facility to participate in the formulation of tasks/ideas important to the community. Rather than focus this discussion on the four ultimately... more

Stevens commentary: Working Lands bill is sound policyEditor’s note: This op-ed is by Rep. Will Stevens, an independent from Shoreham who is a member of the House Agriculture Committee. He and his wife own Golden Russet Farm.
I’ve often been asked, “What’s so special about the Working Lands bill (H.... more

Hey, let's do them all!It is too bad the community planning initiative Bennington is undertaking with help from the Vermont Council on Rural Development, and the many state officials and experts the process will bring to town, couldn't pursue all of the excellent ideas... more

Bennington community defines goalsBENNINGTON -- Residents winnowed more than 20 potential action statements down to four Thursday evening with the help of the Vermont Council on Rural Development as part of that group's ongoing Community Visit Program. The group held nine community... more

Debevoise commentary: Support Vermont’s working landsEditor’s note: This op-ed is by Tom Debevoise, the owner of Upwey Farm in South Woodstock. He served as chairman of the Council on the Future of Vermont in 2008-09.
Sometimes I have trouble getting excited about what the Legislature is up to.... more

2012 Doyle Town Meeting Day survey resultsThe 2012 Doyle Town Meeting Day survey results are in and show that 89% of Vermonters believe that the state should continue to support our working farms and forests. Click here to see all the results.

Video ~ Finding Reliable Information in the Digital AgeACROSS THE FENCE: Larraby Fellows of Vermont State Colleges talks with Judy Simpson on WCAX's "Across the Fence" which was broadcast on 4/4/12. She discusses and demonstrates how to find reliable information online. Click here to watch the interview... more

House Supports Bill To Preserve Working LandscapeVermont Public Radio ~ (Host) The House has given its strong support to legislation that's designed to provide opportunities to strengthen the state's agricultural sector.
The legislation allocates just over $2 million to help launch new businesses... more

Letter to the Editor: Support our working landscapeSANDGATE ~ If you love the beautiful setting of Vermont, with its rolling farmlands graced with forested backdrops of the Green Mountains or Taconic Range, then thank a farmer, a forester or a logger. These hardworking folks with sore backs and... more

Commentary: This is the town's big chanceBENNINGTON ~ I have heard the voice of Bennington, and there is reason for hope. The Vermont Council on Rural Development paid us a visit recently. They held forums to stimulate a discussion on how to improve our community. What was said there was... more

Side Dishes: Morristown gains ground for a co-opLamoille County is home to 375 farms — according to the DC-based Environmental Working Group — and not one food co-op. Residents seeking to own a stake in their farm-fresh food have to purchase a CSA, or head to co-ops in Hardwick or Montpelier.... more

A good start with forums: Now, let's build on thatBennington residents turned out in impressive numbers Thursday afternoon and evening for nine community forums to offer suggestions and comments on broad topics for possible initiatives that would benefit the town. Those residents and others, and... more

Bennington speaks out at community forumsBENNINGTON, NEAL P. GOSWAMI, Staff Writer -- Local officials and residents fanned out in force in nine separate forums Thursday as part of the Vermont Council on Rural Development's community visit program aimed at jump-starting discussion on a... more

Community-wide planning effort to launchFriday February 24, 2012: KEITH WHITCOMB JR., Staff Writer
BENNINGTON -- If other towns are any indication, some changes and new initiatives could be coming to Bennington in the near future.
On March 15, there will be a Community Visit Meeting... more

Letter to the editor: Benefits us allLetter to the editor of the Times Argus by Dan Breslaw of West Corinth: I hear a lot of arguments over whether the government or the private sector should be planning our future. What I like best about the Working Landscape bill now before the... more

Middlebury to offer free wi-fiMIDDLEBURY, Vt. (WCAX) - The town of Middlebury will soon offer free wireless internet.
Money in the town budget along with funding from the Vermont Council on Rural Development, has allowed the local library, which already offers free Wi-Fi to... more

Letter to the editor: League of Women Voters02/20/12 ~ Support working lands bill. The League of Women Voters of Vermont supports the Working Lands Enterprise Investment Bill (H.496/S.246).
The League recognizes that some land-use decisions are of statewide concern and believes that the... more

Letter to the editor: Nancy Wayne JaffeShelburne resident, Nancy Wayne Jaffe, writes in support of the Working Lands Enterprise Investment bill. Click here to read her letter to the editor of the Shelburne News.

Letter to the editor: Protecting our resourcesRuth Wallman, Executive Director of the Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce, wrote a letter to the St. Albans Messenger in support of the Working Land Enterprise bill. Click here to read her letter to the editor.

Bill bolsters ag, forest and food processingMONTPELIER — Vermont lawmakers are working on legislation that aims to bolster Vermont’s economy while retaining the hallmarks of its rural landscape.
The main focus in both the House and Senate agriculture committees so far this session has been... more

Working the landEditorial by David Moats, Rutland Herald/Times-Argus, 2/5/2012 ~ Vermonters from one end of the state to the other, of all political persuasions and demographic groups, rank the vitality and beauty of Vermont’s working landscape as one of their most... more

Working landscapeMONTPELIER — “I dip therefore I yam” is a motto that belongs to Lisa Johnson of Norwich, who testified recently about a niche product, Yummy Yams, she is producing from a crop seldom seen on the Vermont landscape. “I want to change the way people... more

Vermont's Digital Development Starts on the Front Porch...e-Vermont, a consortium of seven different organizations, has come together to improve the economic outlook of rural Vermont through technology, while at the same time preserving what’s most attractive about a region better known for its maple... more

Bixby Library looks to its second centuryVERGENNES - ...The e-Vermont grant will help with the technological challenges as the Bixby looks past its birthday — the Bixby served as the lead applicant for the grant. The city and the Vergennes Partnership, the nonprofit that oversees the... more

Working landscapeFrom: http://www.reformer.com/ci_19750382?IADID=Search-www.reformer.com-www.reformer.com
Representative Carolyn Partridge, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, overviews H.496, the Working Lands Enterprise Bill which was introduced this year... more

Allbee Commentary: This is a bold initiativeST. ALBANS — Two Franklin County legislators from opposite sides of the political aisle have joined forces in a bid to improve the development of agricultural and forestry products and businesses in Vermont. Funding for infrastructure development,... more

Editorial: Getting to the character of VermontFrom: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_19732185
BENNINGTON BANNER - It was heartening to see that a bill to create the Working Lands Enterprise investment, promotion, coordination and assistance initiative already has significant support... more

Vt. bill would promote value-added ag, forestryNew Vermont legislation that appears to have broad support seeks to promote turning milk into cheese, apples into cider and trees into furniture as keys to keeping the state's working landscape of farms and forests vital to its economic future.
The... more

Vermont Working Landscape Partnership press conferenceSeveral Vermont lawmakers and advocates announced the introduction of the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Investment bill on Wednesday morning in the Vermont statehouse. After a presentation to the Rural Economic Development Caucus, representatives... more

Through Grants, Bill Would Invest In Working LandscapeFrom: http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/93023/through-grants-bill-would-invest-in-working-landsc/
(Host) Turning milk into cheese, apples into cider and trees into furniture are some of the key ways to keeping Vermont's working landscape vital in the... more

Best of both worlds: Protecting Vt, adding jobs(1/10/12) MONTPELIER — In an effort to preserve the character of Vermont’s rural landscape and create jobs, the Vermont Council on Rural Development will tout legislation this week that it says would do both. The council is the force behind a bill... more

A Contest Gets Vermont Businesses WebbyNothing like competition and cash prizes to get businesses people fired up. In rural Vermont, contests for the best new business applications on the web - plus training and mentoring - are improving scores local companies. Click HERE to read the... more

Council wants to know Bennington’s goalsBENNINGTON -- The Council on Rural Development is planning to bring its Community Visit Program to Bennington to help residents identify and achieve goals for the town. Executive Director Paul Costello said an initial steering committee is being put... more

Advocates push for 'working landscapes' billBRATTLEBORO -- Former agriculture secretary Roger Allbee smiles when he talks about Vermont's farming renaissance in the last decade.
He also beams when reviewing the industry's future.
"The future has always been adding value, whether it's butter... more

VPR Commentary Series ~ Schubart: Fragile LandscapeFrom: http://www.vpr.net/episode/52649/schubart-fragile-landscape/
(Host) Commentator Bill Schubart has been paying attention to a new initiative by a broad base of Vermonters to ensure that Vermont's working landscape continues to contribute to... more

VPR Commentary Series ~ Krupp: The Working LandscapeFrom: http://www.vpr.net/episode/52633/krupp-working-landscape/
(Host) What will the New Year hold for farming, food and forestry in the Green Mountain state? Commentator Ron Krupp looks at the challenges and opportunities we face with our working... more

Invest in our futureGeorge Aiken really was the man with a plan. When he was governor, he took many of the qualities of Vermont he loved and built policy around them. Nearly all of the public policy he solidified had direct affects on farming, agriculture and Vermont’s... more

Council: State should invest in Vt.’s rural resourcesBy Thatcher Moats, VERMONT PRESS BUREAU
MONTPELIER — A Vermont group hoping to revitalize the state’s rural economy and preserve its “working landscape” said the state should invest at least $15 million annually for grants, loans and other... more

e-Vermont on Across the Fence in October 2011October 2011 - Watch 4 episodes with e-Vermont Partners on Across the Fence by clicking the titles below. The episodes include:
10/20/11 — Facilitating Community Dialogue through Front Porch Forum. Michael Wood-Lewis, co-founder of Front Porch... more

Revitalizing Vermont’s Rural Economy - Campaign LaunchedJERICHO— Today, members representing the Vermont Working Landscape Partnership (VWLP) launched the Revitalizing Vermont’s Rural Economy campaign. The campaign is focused on achieving the five goals outlined in the Partnership’s Action Plan,... more

County classrooms embrace new technologiesADDISON COUNTY — In Dawn Berno’s fourth-grade class at Addison Central School, students are learning key skills for the Internet age, ranging from principles of digital citizenship to managing a personal password, with the help of their own netbook... more

'The Blood in this Town' screens on Capitol Hill Thursday“The Blood in This Town,” the documentary about Rutland, Vermont’s grassroots efforts to revitalize itself, travels to Capitol Hill this week for a screening and revitalization forum, bringing the plight and promise of America’s ailing small towns... more

Report Offers Clear Actions for Vermont’s Working LandscapeMONTPELIER, VT – The Vermont Working Landscape Partnership announces the release of Investing in our Farm and Forest Future. This nonpartisan Action Plan offers five recommendations to help reinvigorate the state’s rural economy. Click HERE to read... more

Audio ~ Helen Labun Jordan on national radioHelen Labun Jordan, Project Director for the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project, was Craig Settles guest on his Gigabit Nation radio show that aired 9/12/11. Click here for more about the show.
Listen to internet radio with cjspeaks on Blog... more

Digital Wish on WVTK RadioHeather Chirtea and Eric Bird of Digital Wish talk about their work with Addison Central School and other Vermont schools and the e-Vermont program. Click here to listen to the audio.

Costello Commentary: Vermont’s Digital HeroesBy Paul Costello
The power of broadband is not in the pipe—infrastructure is but a necessary precondition—it is in the creativity of those who use it.
The broadband dialogue in Vermont has been all about deficit—and rightly so. But with our focus... more

Task forces get to work on Morristown’s futureBy next summer, Morristown could boast bustling storefronts, a local-foods co-op, emerging small businesses, and a recreation trail system that attracts both tourists and locals. Nearly 80 citizens are working to make those goals happen. Earlier... more

New Projects Galvanize Morrisville LeadershipMorristown community and municipal leaders are working together on four projects identified this spring to energize the economy, improve the downtown, and advance Morrisville as a dynamic place to live and do business in the future. The Vermont... more

Back to the land in Vermont … again? Some see strong signsMonty Fischer, the energetic director of the nonprofit Center for an Agricultural Economy, is responsible for helping to spur local food initiatives in Hardwick.
The center is an educational organization for budding entrepreneurs, farmers, public... more

Vermont town's blood drive, film draw noticeRUTLAND, Vt. — When documentary filmmaker Art Jones and his five-man crew set out from New York to shoot footage of a blood drive in a small Vermont city, he did it to satisfy an old friend, one of the organizers. Jones figured it might make a nice... more

e-Vermont Brings Computer Training To TownsJoanna Cummings of the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project talks with VPR's Mitch Wertlieb about the the project and how it is helping bring computer access and training to Vermont towns. Listen to the interview.
In Vermont the uphill climb to... more

State leaders hope to build "digital culture"RANDOLPH CENTER – From Brattleboro to Newport, Vermonters came to Randolph Center Saturday to talk about how — and why — they wired up their towns with broadband. At a daylong conference called “Citizen Leadership in a Connected Age,” townspeople,... more

The Winning Vermont's Broadband Access StrategyRural America Radio is a project of the Rural Mobile & Broadband Alliance (rumbausa.com). Listen in as Helen Labun Jordan, the eVermont Project Director, shares with radio listeners across the country about how communities across Vermont are... more

Morristown residents set priorities for town's futureMORRISTOWN ~ Morristown residents want to fill empty downtown storefronts, promote local foods, make the town much friendlier to pedestrians, and support new and growing small businesses. Next month, some of Vermont’s top economic-development... more

Grant gives local libraries electronic gearPOWNAL -- Two local libraries received thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment Tuesday from the e-Vermont grant program.
The Solomon Wright Public Library in Pownal and the Martha Canfield Library in Arlington had the equipment... more

Rutland Takes a BowRUTLAND ~ May 16, 2011. VCRD's Paul Costello hosted a morning session at the Vermont Business for Social Responsibility's annual meeting. There he pointed to Rutland's successful efforts since VCRD's creative economy program there, including the... more

Morristown Selects Top Four PrioritiesMORRISTOWN – About 150 people turned out for the second of a series of meetings hosted by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), and as a result the top four priorities for action in Morristown have been chosen. The Morristown community... more

Dover School to get new computersDOVER -- After being selected to participate in a statewide effort to increase the use of technology and online capabilities, students at Dover Elementary will be issued new computers. As part of the e-Vermont Grant, awarded to Dover by the Vermont... more

e-Vermont efforts work out well for four county towns...Fourth and fifth graders at the Fisher Elementary School received 53 notebook computers, along with personnel to train both students and teachers in their usage. Woodrow said it was more than just giving a student a laptop and letting them have... more

Video ~ Vermont's Working Landscape: Keeping it Vital
VWLP’s video, Vermont’s Working Landscape: Keeping it Vital, looks at the difficulties facing our farm and forest economy as well as the opportunities the state can pursue to reverse alarming trends. Narrated by Chris Graff with original music... more

Community visit could spark change for MorristownWould there be enough customers to support a natural-food co-op in Morristown? How could the town draw business from the thousands of tourists who visit Stowe and Smugglers' Notch every year? Those were just a couple of the issues on the table... more

Grant could get Vt. towns connectedPoultney Elementary School students recite the history of the town while scanning the internet. At Poultney projectors outshine chalkboards and netbooks may soon replace textbooks. Watch the WCAX news story on this e-Vermont town: http://www.wcax.... more

Round One Netbooks Are in the ClassroomsDigital Wish has completed the netbook classroom deployment for all of our Round One schools. Watch this Vodcast narrated by Eric Bird, lead trainer and peer coach with Digital Wish, with footage from selected classroom deployments. Congratulations... more

Downtown Morrisville has vacant lookThis article points out the effects of the economic downturn on Morrisville and points to ways the community is addressing the problems there, including our upcoming Community Visit process to begin in March 2011 and the e-Vermont Community... more

Stimulus funds help wire homes for InternetUp in rural northern Vermont, it took until the 1960s to run power lines to some towns — decades after the rest of America got turned on..."Rural areas all across the country are wrestling with this, somewhat desperately," said Paul Costello,... more

Calling all surfers: e-Vermont selects Dover as an e-townDOVER—Dover continues its propulsion into the digital age with its participation in the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project. According to VCRD e-Vermont Community Director Philip Petty, e-Vermont is a two-year federally funded initiative to help... more

Moretown awarded e-Vermont grantThe town of Moretown was recently awarded an e-Vermont grant that will result in a new website for the town, among other technological upgrades. Moretown is among 12 rural communities to receive the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project grant.Town... more

Calais, Hardwick chosen for E-Vt. digital projectThe towns of Calais and Hardwick are joining 10 other rural communities set to receive computers and develop new digital projects through a pilot project sponsored by the Vermont Council on Rural Development. The e-Vermont Community Broadband... more

e-Vermont Gets IT Umph to 12 More Small TownsThe E-Vermont Community Broadband Project was the only applicant East of the Mississippi to be awarded federal stimulus money for rural broadband. This week the project announced both advances of 2010 and the names of 12 rural communities chosen for... more

Dover to participate in broadband projectOn Tuesday, the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project selected 12 communities to participate in a rural broadband initiative. The town of Dover was among them.
E-Vermont is a national broadband adoption initiative focused on rural needs. The... more

e-Vermont Selects 2011 CommunitiesMONTPELIER, VT – The e-Vermont Community Broadband Project will bring digital tools and in-depth internet training to 12 additional rural communities in 2011. The twelve, announced today, will benefit from the expertise and resources of e-Vermont’s... more

A netbook for every studentBRISTOL — For the students in Hannah Estey and Rebecca Zavadil’s fifth-grade classes, Christmas came a bit early this year. On Thursday, the Bristol Elementary School fifth-graders all received new Dell netbooks to use at school and at home through... more

The Future of Vermont’s Working Landscape is New FarmersBlogpost by Ben Waterman of UVM's New Farmer Project.
New farmers will play a lead role in preserving the integrity of Vermont’s future working landscape.
On Friday I joined about 300 other stakeholders at the Vermont State House for the Summit on... more

Plan seeks to preserve Vt.'s open landscapeMONTPELIER — At a summit in Montpelier this past Friday, members of the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s Working Landscape Partnership laid out a plan that they hope will preserve and bolster the state’s agricultural and forestry economy.
The... more

Future of Vermont study finds second windBy KEVIN O’CONNOR, STAFF WRITER
Supporters believe the Council on the Future of Vermont’s 2009 report on concerns facing the state in coming decades was ahead of its time. But that wasn’t why Governor-elect Peter Shumlin and some 300 local and... more

Report recommends “action steps” for working landscapeBy Anne Galloway, vtdigger.org ~ On the face of it, the 300 or so Vermonters who gathered at the Statehouse on Friday didn’t have much in common. They represented disparate interests — state and local land trusts, environmental groups, cheese... more

Mouseclicks 101 at Mark Skinner Library...Across the state, as high speed Internet access becomes more widespread and is steadily integrated into daily life, classes for seniors or those the computer revolution passed by are becoming more prevalent and popular, said Helen Labun Jordan,... more

Our Working Landscape and Our Future - Donath CommentaryIn the hearts of most Vermonters, our state is first among the great places in America. Vermont is also a great, unspoiled place in the imaginations of its visitors, and in the minds of many thoughtful people around the country and the world. This... more

e-VT reaches out to Vt. communitiesPart of Vermont’s charm lies in a simple image of its landscape: quaint New England villages nestled in rolling hills dotted with red barns and cows. While this scene may dominate postcards, there is more behind these picturesque illustrations. Real... more

Fairfield brand? Town dreams "big"FAIRFIELD: Community settles on three priorities — Development of a farmer’s market, a buy-local program and ultimately a Fairfield brand were among the projects proposed when about 50 residents met Thursday night to help shape their town’s future.... more

Commentary: Time to move Vermont forwardSue Allen, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Vermont (former)
My thoughts were on election issues as I grained the Scottish Highlands last Tuesday morning. I was reminded that Vermont farms, particularly small dairy operations, are struggling... more

Jordan Commentary: Bridging the digital divideBringing high speed Internet access to all of Vermont is an oft-repeated and excellent goal for the state. There are countless ways that the Internet can, and does, improve the lives of Vermonters. Businesses have a tool for connecting with... more

e-Vermont’s own FPF featured in U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report focuses on giving back in its Nov. 2010 issue, including an article examining Front Porch Forum! Thousands of Vermonters have been doing great things through FPF since 2006… kudos to all!
Read more...

Netbooks expected in PownalPOWNAL - Technology was the topic of much of the conversation at a recent Pownal school board meeting, at which an update on new student netbooks was given, as well as information about an afterschool computer club...
...Pownal is one of 12... more

Audio ~ e-Vermont on the Mark Johnson Show, Part 2Helen Labun Jordan, e-Vermont Program Director and Heather Chirtea, Digital Wish Director continue their conversation with Mark Johnson about the e-Vermont program and the launch of the second round application process. Listen to the audio recording.

Audio ~ e-Vermont on the Mark Johnson Show, Part 1Helen Labun Jordan, e-Vermont Program Director and Heather Chirtea, Digital Wish Director talk with Mark Johnson about the e-Vermont program and the launch of the second round application process. Listen to the audio recording.

If you build it, will they come?ARLINGTON - Even if it weren't an election year, the chances are excellent that residents of Vermont would be hearing a lot about broadband. ...That part of the broadband equation - getting people online and tapping into the potential applications... more

Audio ~ Front Porch Forum on Equal Time RadioMichael Wood Lewis, founder of Front Porch Forum, explains how the simple web- or email-based social networking tool brings neighbors together, helps them organize, and saves them money or even finds them jobs. It's available for free to the 12... more

Costello Commentary: Working lands futuresPaul, VCRD Executive Director, reflects on his cross-country bike trip and the working landscape effort we are embarking on.
2010 - Early this summer I rode my bike from the west coast home to Vermont. Covering over 3,000 miles of rural America,... more

Art of Action ends in auctionFor more than two years the Art of Action exhibit has toured Vermont. It's a collection of more than 100 pieces by Vermont artists. The artwork was inspired by the social, cultural and
political issues facing our state.
The exhibit has traveled to... more

Pownal selected for e-Vermont projectPOWNAL, Vt. -- Pownal is one of 12 communities statewide chosen to be a part of the e-Vermont Project, which is funded by money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act through the Vermont Council on Rural Development, James Boutin, chairman... more

Pownal, Sunderland selected in e-ProjectOne of the first things the community will see from participation in the e-Vermont Project will be 50 Dell Netbooks assigned to the third and fourth graders at Pownal Elementary School.
Pownal and Sunderland are two of 12 communities statewide... more

Rural Businesses Grow Faster TogetherRural businesses grow bigger and faster when they are closer together. In Vermont, a cluster of food-related businesses is thriving. The state needs to make sure this group of businesses has access to skilled workers. Click HERE to read the article... more

e-Cambridge hoping for broadbandDespite its name, the pilot program will not be bringing broadband to those areas of Cambridge which do not have high speed internet access. Rather, the goal is to create sufficient interest in broadband to convince one of the area's providers to... more

Poultney, West Rutland in pilot computer programPoultney and West Rutland will get new computers and other services as part of a pilot program run by the Vermont Council on Rural Development.
The Council announced earlier this month that the towns were two of the 12 chosen to participate in the... more

Cambridge an e-CommunityAs a culmination of a process which started more than a year ago, last week, the town of Cambridge was notified they will be one of 12 communities around the state accepted into a program designed to improve their online presence and capabilities.... more

Area towns to get digital boostARLINGTON/SUNDERLAND - The towns of Arlington and Sunderland have received grants from e-Vermont - a part of the Vermont Council on Rural Development - that will provide greater technical resources to the communities.
The grants will be responsible... more

Farmers' Market approved for Adams ParkMANCHESTER - The Select Board unanimously approved the relocation of the Farmer's Market from the parks and recreation department to Adam's Park - the triangular park along Route 7A - on Tuesday.
"I was pleasantly surprised," said manager of the... more

Grand Isle awarded e-Vermont grantNORTH HERO — Residents of the Champlain Is lands, traditionally isolated from the mainland,
this month opted for e-connectivity upgrades.
Grand Isle County is one of 12 relatively isolated areas that received grants to improve Internet... more

e-Vermont grant to expand Internet in BristolBRISTOL — Bristol is one of 12 towns in line to receive a slice of $3.8 million to strengthen Internet access in Vermont, and community leaders are hopeful the landfall “e-Vermont” grant could boost civic engagement and e-commerce while providing... more

12 communities selected to pilot e-Vermont projectA dozen rural communities across the state will receive digital tools and in-depth training as the initial participants in the new e-Vermont Community Broadband Project. The twelve will benefit from the expertise and resources of e-Vermont’s... more

Marlboro prioritizes its futureMARLBORO -- Building a community center and improving walkability in town were the topics of choice for Marlboro residents at the Vermont Council on Rural Development Community Visit meeting.
Held at the Marlboro Elementary School and attended by... more

Strengthening food system in VermontLast year, the Legislature established the Farm to Plate (F2P) Initiative, which asked the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) to do a comprehensive inventory of the food-related assets and resources in the state including producers, processors,... more

Marlboro in second phase of discussions of futureMARLBORO -- Entering the second phase of its Community Visit Program in Marlboro, the Council on Rural Development’s community team will meet again with residents and begin to take some first steps toward action on April 29.
The community visit is... more

Digital divide targeted in e-Vermont projectUnlike Google’s lottery-like “Fiber to the Communities” project, the e-Vermont initiative doesn’t promise super-high-speed Internet to every home.
But e-Vermont will deliver: This summer, 12 rural communities will receive financial and technical... more

Change is a challengeAs the Legislature undertook its work this year, it faced the daunting challenge of filling a $154 million budget gap, and yet legislative leaders showed a curious lack of urgency or concern.
One of the reasons was that many of the tough decisions... more

Residents brainstorm for a new economyThe public has spoken on the future of the city's creative economy.
It will include a clearly-defined identity for Rutland and a railroad or children's museum, the result of a vote by about 100 locals Wednesday night after a three-hour public forum... more

Rutland To Discuss 'Creative Economy'(Host) Rutland residents will get a chance to talk about what they'd like to see happen in the city Wednesday night at a public forum sponsored by Rutland's Creative Economy.
As VPR's Nina Keck reports, organizers are hoping for a big turnout... more

Community building timeLest anyone think all is doom and gloom in Rutland – and between the economy and the state of affairs at the south end of Wales Street, there are plenty of those stories in the city these days – along come the good folks at the Creative Economy to... more

The importance of a working landscapeBy ROGER ALLBEE
There has been a lot of discussion recently about Vermont's working landscape. We know, for example, that 97 percent of Vermonter's say they want a working landscape for their state in the future, according to the survey... more

Internet Contest AnnouncedBARTON: A contest to encourage Northeast Kingdom entrepreneurs and business owners to use the Internet was launched here Thursday, November 5, about two years before the state expects to see broadband availability across Vermont. Paul Costello,... more

State turns to stimulus money for Internet upgradeVermont's efforts to attract and retain businesses reliant on instantaneous communication weren't helped by a recent report indicating that average Internet download speeds in the state are among the pokiest in the country.
The latest edition of... more

Education chief to talk with ANwSU schoolsVERGENNES — When Vermont Commissioner of Education Armando Vilaseca visits Vergennes this week, he will discuss two issues the Vermont Board of Education has identified as critical — one in which local officials said Vergennes Union High School is... more

McClaughry Commentary: Imagining VermontSubmitted by John McClaughry
Four months ago the Council on the Future of Vermont released its report, Imagining Vermont: Values and Vision for the Future.
The report culminated an 18‐month, $400,000 process, during which some four thousand... more

Higher ed: School costs are up — but so are student gainsBy KEVIN O’CONNOR
Is Vermont’s ongoing fight over how to fund schools overshadowing gains in its classrooms?
When the Council on the Future of Vermont asked residents about their most pressing concerns, it heard fury about property taxes for... more

Balance pointA statewide discussion among Vermonters about the environment and the economy has shown that the quality of the environment — the rural landscape of woods, farms, lakes, rivers — is a value deeply embedded in the identity and hopes of Vermonters.... more

Residents in charge of state's futureWhat Vermonters are most concerned about is universal -- preserving the working landscape, fortifying the unity of their communities, retaining the Vermont "brand," creating local energy sources, making sure their children get the best education,... more

Council studies Vermont’s prioritiesAfter two years spent interviewing Vermonters young and old, blue collar and white, the Council on the Future of Vermont shared its findings on the hopes, aspirations and visions for the state as voiced by nearly 4,000 people who know it best.
The... more

Stevens Commentary: Future of AgricultureWILL STEVENS
As Vermonters, do we want to live in a theme park - full of characters we've heard of but never met? Or would we rather engage, through agricultural activity, with our families, our neighbors, and our communities in meaningful ways? As... more

A rich future? Public wants plan for Vermont economyBy KEVIN O'CONNOR, Times Argus Staff Writer
Long before last autumn's financial fall, the Council on the Future of Vermont found stunning agreement on residents' top concern: the economy.
The only thing more surprising: People's worry over a... more

Howard Dean Commentary: Keep Vermont on trackBy HOWARD DEAN
Severe national recession has gripped our state and resulted in a major reduction to state budget revenues. Speaking from experience, I understand the difficult choices our leaders must make to balance the budget. The Legislature has... more

Funding may slow Internet expansionWith the help of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - otherwise known as the Obama stimulus package - all Vermonters might soon have access to highspeed broadband.
The state plans on applying for at least $50 million for broadband expansion... more

Study: Bright future for VermontIn 20 years, Vermont will be more affordable, more energy self-sufficient, have better public transportation and will offer more economic opportunity.
At least that's the vision set out in a new report on the state's future. After 18 months of... more

Leaders develop priorities for Vermont’s future(Host) More than 500 Vermont leaders met at the University of Vermont on Monday to develop priorities for the future of the state.
The conference was the final part of a two-year study looking at whether Vermonters' values are reflected in state... more

Summit starts search for state's futureBURLINGTON – Vermont, said Paul Bruhn of the state's Preservation Trust, "is a great place for the most part — and for the moment. But will we increasingly become Anywhere, USA?" Gather 500 leaders for a Summit on the Future of Vermont and you might... more

The ‘Future of Vermont’ could be historyA Summit on the Future of Vermont is scheduled for May 11 at the University of Vermont. The summit is the final step in a nearly two year long effort by the Vermont Council on Rural Development to take the temperature of today’s Vermont and plan for... more

Gold Commentary: Vermont's future starts todaySTEVE GOLD COMMENTARY ~ Times are tough and news is bleak. One response is to bury our heads in today's details and sit on our hands in fear of tomorrow. While an appealing approach for some, inaction won't solve our current problems or bring us any... more

Grant to boost Middlebury waterfalls planA PLAN TO improve pedestrian access to, and enjoyment of, the Otter Creek Falls in downtown Middlebury received a major boost on Thursday with the receipt of a $240,000 federal grant.
...The project was one of the priorities identified in the... more

Hanna Commentary: Acting in leadership(HOST) Commentator Cheryl Hanna is a professor at Vermont Law School and a member of the Council for the Future of Vermont. She's been thinking about Vermont's potential to be a leader in these turbulent times.
(HANNA) I know that for many... more

The Vermont identityVermonters have reverence for the state's rural landscape, and they hope for economic development that will provide jobs and housing for the future.
They cherish their small communities and value their ability to participate, and they cherish the... more

Group readies forum resultsAs Vermont evolves and the economic climate changes, it seems the need for a broad assessment of the state, along the values of the people living here, crops up periodically.
The Council on the Future of Vermont was created by the Vermont Council... more

Artful Dodger...It was a lot of words, but the message was simple: At a time when public funding for necessities such as roads and schools is imperiled, public arts funding could simply cease to exist. When the recession chopping block comes out, programs that... more

What do today's state trends say about tomorrow?The nonpartisan Council on the Future of Vermont made news last week by releasing a report warning that the state's lack of diversity may endanger its growth.
Noting that dairy totals nearly 80 percent of agricultural sales, for example, the study... more

Study notes Vt. trends over two decadesCOLCHESTER -- Agriculture in Vermont depends more heavily on a single commodity -- dairy -- than in any other state. Yet despite efforts to diversify the farm sector, sales of most nondairy products have remained relatively flat since 1991.
These... more

Challenges lie ahead for Vermont, new report warnsVermont takes pride in its dairy farms and a population that rates high in national health rankings.
And that could be a problem, the Council on the Future of Vermont warns.
The nonpartisan study group has released a new report, "Vermont in... more

Report studies trends shaping Vermont’s future(Host) The Council on the Future of Vermont was formed two years ago to help the state chart a course for the next two decades.
And now two St. Michael's College professors have identified the most important trends that are shaping that future.... more

Study: Vt. Tourism StagnantShelburne Museum is one of Vermont's top tourist attractions.
Upwards of 110,000 people visit every year from states across the country. But only half of all visitors to the museum are out of staters.
"And that has shifted in the last 20 years... more

Agriculture Takes Center Stage in MontpelierAgriculture took center stage in Montpelier Wednesday.
The Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council told lawmakers about its top issues for the session. They include promoting local food and generating energy on farms.
The council is a partnership... more

State grant to fund Killington arts center studyCourtesy of a $25,000 Vermont Community Development Planning Grant awarded to the town, a bid will go out to contractors in February to do a preliminary feasibility study of a center, to determine if there's a demand for one in the town and if the... more

Business, Corporate Support Help Keep Arts Groups Afloat...“In Vermont, the creative economy isn’t just about five percent of the economy engaged in culture or crafts such as bookbinding,” said Costello. “In Vermont, the story of the creative economy is really the story of Bellows Falls, Brandon and... more

Bellows Falls boosters honoredOne is an artist and the other a planner and historian. Together they played pivotal roles in the current renaissance of Bellows Falls and both were honored recently for their work by the Vermont Council on Rural Development.
Artist Robert McBride... more

Meeting focusses on Vermont's futureWhat will Vermont look like in the next 20, 30 or 40 years?
The Council on the Future of Vermont will be in Brattleboro Thursday night to ask that very question. The Council wants to know how Windham County feel about where the state is now and... more

Maintaining balanceFor more than a year, the Council on the Future of Vermont (CFV) has been going around the state listening to Vermonters and striking up a dialogue on where we are, where we are going and the forces that will shape our future.
The Windham County... more

Editorial: Working landscape for past and presentWe Vermonters like our beautiful state, but think it is getting harder to afford to live here.
The Council on the Future of Vermont asked hundreds of Vermonters about their values and concerns and that's what they said. Among values, "I value the... more

Poll says Vermonters value landscape, communityA new poll confirms some long-held assumptions about Vermonters. They cherish the state's working landscape ... its sense of community... and its independence.
But the poll also shows that people worry that the state faces some challenges that... more

Shaping the future through artLyman Orton was putting together a 2006 art exhibition from his private collection, "Lost Vermont Images," when the work inspired him to look in another direction: Not back at the way Vermont was -- but forward to what it might be...The Vermont... more

Survey Tries to Pin Down Vermont ValuesPoliticians, business leaders, and the public often talk about "Vermont values." But what exactly are they? A new survey released Monday attempts to quantify those in a scientific way.
"The question is what are Vermonters' common values?" asked... more

Rising Cost of Living a Major ConcernResearchers at the University of Vermont released a survey Monday showing many residents share a common vision of their state ... Virtually all of those responding - 97 percent - said they value Vermont's "working landscape and its heritage" - a... more

Burlington CFV ForumsFor 45 seconds, no one in the small crowd seated in City Hall's Contois Auditorium clamored for a turn at the microphone Thursday evening. Paul Costello, director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, didn't look surprised. He repeated the... more

Chris Graff CommentarySpeaking in 1931 to the Vermont Commission on Country Life, Vermont Supreme Court Justice Wendell Stafford said, "Of Vermont have many books been written, many pictures painted, many songs sung. Yet who shall say that he has ever really seen Vermont... more

Steve Delany Commentary: Deciding Our FutureFor the first time in a generation Vermonters are being asked to help define what the state's future should be.
The Council on the Future of Vermont is nearing the end of a two-year process of inquiry, asking people in each county what challenges... more

Bixby upgrades techVERGENNES — The eVermont grant that helped bring free wifi to downtown Vergennes has also benefited the Bixby Free Memorial Library inside its walls, too. The eVermont grant paid for several upgrades at the Bixby, including the purchase of laptops,... more